Why & When to Cite

In academia, everything in your research paper, presentation or assignment is assumed to be your original work. You indicate that the information was created by someone else by citing it. Citations position your research within an ongoing scholarly conversation. When you cite someone in an assignment or presentation, you allow their voice to be heard and recognized. When you copy or unintentionally plagiarize, you erase their rightful place in academia. By citing, you enhance your own credibility by supporting your argument with evidence, and provide the reader with sources for further reading.

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When writing an academic or research paper, you may not always know when it is appropriate to cite a source. A good rule is to provide a citation for any idea that is not your own. This includes:

• Direct quotations,
• Paraphrasing a quotation, passage, or idea,
• Summary of another's idea or research,
• Images, graphs, figures or video clips you did not create yourself
• Specific reference to an obscure fact, figure, or phrase.

You do not need to cite widely-accepted common knowledge or common phrases unless you are using a direct quotation. When in doubt, cite your source. This will allow your readers, including your professor, to locate and review your references.